Device for removing articles from a shaft

ABSTRACT

A device for removing objects mounted on shafts in which the object is gripped on a circumferential surface by eccentrically arranged cams and a force adjustably applied axially to one end of the shaft.

[451 May 14,1974

[ DEVICE FOR REMOVING ARTICLES FROM A SHAFT [76] Inventor: Donald F. Link, 12203 Greenleaf Dr., SE, Huntsville, Ala. 35803 [22] Filed: July 17, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 272,643

[52] US. Cl. 29/261 [51] Int. Cl B23p 19/04 [58] Field of Search 29/246, 261, 262, 265

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 887,103 5/1908 Lane 29/261 X 1,725,169 8/1929 Wooldridge 29/261 1,482,694 2/1924 Neill 1,673,397 6/1928 Corkum 29/262 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 649,616 12/1928 France 29/262 Primary Examiner-James L. Jones, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Mark S. Bicks [57] ABSTRACT A device for removing objects mounted on shafts in which the object is gripped on a circumferential surface by eccentrically arranged cams and a force adjustably applied axially to one end of the shaft.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR REMOVING ARTICLES FROM A SHAFI BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to devices which remove articles from shafts and commonly falling within the category variouslyreferred to as wheel, pulley, or gear pullers.

The general configuration of such devices is illustrated by the battery terminal lug puller shown in Ridenour U.S. Pat. No. 1,732,696QAs shown therein, a pair of lever arms have booked portions at one end for encircling the clamp, wheel or other circular object to be removed from a terminal or shaft. These arms are usually radially positioned by virtue of a conical cam operating on the opposite ends of the lever arms. The significant feature which is common to known devices of this category is that the lever arms are adapted to engage a surface perpendicular to the direction of removal of the object, or perpendicular to the axis of the shaft on which the object is mounted. This, of course, is an appropriate one where the article is so constructed as to withstand forces applied in this fashion and is accessible. However, the applicant has discovered there are a number of articles, notably fans, wherein the outer portion which wouldtypically be encircled and engaged by the encircling lever arms of the puller is too fragile to take the forces typically necessary for removal of the article from its shaft or where it is inaccessible. As will be appreciated, fan blades or fan blade guards, for example, which constitute the portion of the fan at the periphery of a fan, are usually fairly insubstantial and will not usually support a pulling force sufficient to remove the fan from its shaft and attempts to effect such removal usually result in damage to the fan.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, thus, the object and purpose of this invention to provide a device for removing objects from shafts which overcome, the aforesaid difficulties. The invention is particularly directed to use with fans and such other shaft mounted articles which include a hub or other substantial body member having a circumferential area which can be gripped. As contemplated by the invention, instead of the employment of encircling hooks there would be provided two or more eccentrically mounted cams on lever arms adapted to laterally engage and grip the hub or similar portion of the article to be removed. Knurled or serrated surfaces of the gripping cams laterally grip the article, transmitting sufficient force parallel to the axis of the shaft on which the article is mounted for its removal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a device for removing articles from shafts as contemplated by this invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of a lever supporting member employed by the device.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1 and showing an end portion of one of the lever arms of the device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the cams mounted on the end of the lever arm shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a spring employed to bias the cams shown in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, wheel puller 10 includes crosshead or lever support assembly 12 which is essentially rectangular in cross section, and is provided with central threaded opening 14. Diametrically opposed longitudinal slots 16 and 18 (FIG. 2) are formed into each rounded end 20 and 22, respectively, of crosshead l2 and extend in a plane parallel to central opening 14, being provided with centrally positioned transverse aligned apertures 24. Pulling links or lever arms 26 and 28 (FIG. I) are pivotally attached by through pins 30 within slots 16 and 18 to intermediate mounting lugs 32 formed on inwardly disposed sides 34 of elongated center position 36 of lever arms 26 and 28. lnwardly inclined ends 38 of lever arms 26 and 28 are each terminated in integral yoke 40 provided with opposed apertures 42 and adapted to accept serrated, eccentrically mounted, work-engaging cams 44 (FIG. 4), being rotatably attached within yokes 40 by through pin 46.

Each cam 44 is initially held in work engaging position by a leaf type spring 48 secured by screw 50 to an outer side 52 of a yoke 40, coacting with plane surface 54 of a cam 44. lnwardly formed lip 56 of each spring 48 loosely engages transverse slot 58 milled into plane surface 54 of earns 44. Thus, as shown, earns 44 are biased to essentially maximum cam-to-cam spacing and thus upon gripping an article, the full eccentric movement of each cam is available for the application of force upon an article normal to the surface of the article for maximum gripping effect.

At the opposite end 60, lever arms 26 and 28 are formed with car shaped lobe 62 contoured to slidably engage outer surface 64 of conical biasing nut 66. Biasing nut 66 has central threaded opening 68 adapted to mate with elongated thrust screw 70, being threadably supported within central opening 14 of crosshead 12. Thrust screw 70 is provided with pilot point 72 at one end 74 which engages shaft or axle 76 from which a shaft or axle mounted assembly 77, such as a fan, wheel or gear, is to be removed and at the opposite end 78 is provided with integral square cap 80 by which screw 70 may be turned, using a suitable wrench, not shown.

With wheel puller 10 positioned as shown in FIG. 1 clockwise rotation of biasing nut 66 urges serrated cams 44 into firm engagement with hub 82 of shaft mounted assembly 77 to be removed from shaft 76. By turning screw 70 in the proper direction pilot point 72 is disposed against end 88 of shaft 76, applying a counter force to hub 82 through serrated cams 44. This action tends to rotate earns 44 in a direction as shown by arrows 90, causing them to further grip hub 82. Thus the gripping action is increased as the removal process continues. In this manner, hub 82 is axially shifted from axle 76 in one easy operation, as sufficient gripping force is applied, the force depending upon the difficulty of axially shifting jub 82 on axle 76.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for removing articles from a shaft com prising:

a thrust screw having means at a first end for turning said screw and means at the other or second end for axially engaging a shaft from which an article having an exposed surface region parallel or concentric with said shaft is to be removed;

a conical member adapted to be threaded on said screw in the region adjoining said first end of said screw and having an outer diameter which varies with distance axially measured along said conical member;

a lever support member threaded on said screw and adapted to be adjustably positionable between said conical member and said second end of said screw;

at least two lever arms intermediately and pivotally supported in a balance configuration about and on said lever support member;

a first end of each of said lever arms configured to engage the conical surface of said conical member whereby rotation of said conical member on said screw operates each said lever arm and the opposite or second end of each lever arm is adjustably caused to radially move such that said second ends of the two or more lever arms are adjustably movable closer to or farther apart;

a curved cam mounted on said second end of each said lever arm, said cam being eccentrically mounted, and configured and oriented to decrease the spacing between it and at least one other like mounted cam on at least one other said lever arm upon relative movement between a said cam and the circumferential surface of an article engaged between said cams when said screw is rotated with respect to said lever support member in one direction, and whereby said object would be gripped tighter by the tendency of such movement;

a curved, irregular, inner, article engaging surface on each said cam adapted to frictionally grip between a said cam and a said article;

spring means affixed to each said lever arm and engaging each said cam for biasing each said cam for essentially maximum cam-to-cam spacing whereby upon gripping an article the full eccentric movement of each said cam will be available on a said article as said device is operated;

whereby said conical member may be threaded to a position causing said cams to initially grip a said article and then by rotation of said screw, force is applied between an end of a shaft and a said article increasing the gripping force and applying an axial force which removes the article from the shaft. 

1. A device for removing articles from a shaft comprising: a thrust screw having means at a first end for turning said screw and means at the other or second end for axially engaging a shaft from which an article having an exposed surface region parallel or concentric with said shaft is to be removed; a conical member adapted to be threaded on said screw in the region adjoining said first end of said screw and having an outer diameter which varies with distance axially measured along said conical member; a lever support member threaded on said screw and adapted to be adjustably positionable between said conical member and said second end of said screw; at least two lever arms intermediately and pivotally supported in a balance configuration about and on said lever support member; a first end of each of said lever arms configured to engage the conical surface of said conical member whereby rotation of said conical member on said screw operates each said lever arm and the opposite or second end of each lever arm is adjustably caused to radially move such that said second ends of the two or more lever arms are adjustably movable closer to or farther apart; a curved cam mounted on said second end of each said leVer arm, said cam being eccentrically mounted, and configured and oriented to decrease the spacing between it and at least one other like mounted cam on at least one other said lever arm upon relative movement between a said cam and the circumferential surface of an article engaged between said cams when said screw is rotated with respect to said lever support member in one direction, and whereby said object would be gripped tighter by the tendency of such movement; a curved, irregular, inner, article engaging surface on each said cam adapted to frictionally grip between a said cam and a said article; spring means affixed to each said lever arm and engaging each said cam for biasing each said cam for essentially maximum camto-cam spacing whereby upon gripping an article the full eccentric movement of each said cam will be available on a said article as said device is operated; whereby said conical member may be threaded to a position causing said cams to initially grip a said article and then by rotation of said screw, force is applied between an end of a shaft and a said article increasing the gripping force and applying an axial force which removes the article from the shaft. 